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Closing the Homework Gap Through Mobile Hotspots Act

Floor Speech

Date: Nov. 21, 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Technology and Communication Education

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Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, an estimated 12 million school-aged children lack broadband at home. 12 million students--this is a startling number. Before the internet became ubiquitous, students completed their homework with pencil and paper. This is no longer the case. Today, many students have homework that requires internet for research or to ask their teachers questions. If a student does not have that, they must find a venue that provides free Wi-Fi, like libraries, cafes, or other public venues. Unfortunately, some of these locations are not conducive to a study environment. They may be noisy or have time restrictions on internet use at a computer kiosk. Furthermore, students, then must find transportation to and from such establishments, creating additional barriers to education for the students and their families. This is a modern-day travesty that must end. That is why I am introducing the ``Closing the Homework Gap Through Mobile Hotspots Act''--a bill that would create a $100 million grant program for libraries, schools, the territories, and federally recognized Indian Tribes to build and sustain mobile hotspot programs to close the ``homework gap.'' Many schools and libraries have already created mobile hotspot programs to help students who do not have broadband at home. Essentially, students can ``check-out'' or borrow these mobile hotspots from their schools or local libraries for a set period of time. Funds for such programs, however, may lapse after a few years or when funding is eliminated. My bill will ensure this does not happen and our students have internet to complete their assignments. Madam Speaker, the Closing the Homework Gap Through Mobile Hotspots Act is a critical bill that will help close the digital divide and address the homework gap. Every child deserves their best chance at pursuing education. For the sake of our children, I urge all my colleagues to support this timely, and necessary bill.

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